Terrafugia Inc., developer of the Transition street-legal airplane, has begun feasibility studies of a four-seat, vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) plug-in hybrid-electric flying car, the TF-X.
TF-X provides vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capability with electric motors and custom-made quiet rotors, company officials said in a prepared statement.
“TF-X gets its power in forward flight from a powerful turbine engine,” officials said. “TF-X seats four and drives like a normal car. It will be fully street legal.”
“This is the right time for us to begin thinking about the future of the company beyond Transition development,” says Terrafugia CEO/CTO Carl Dietrich. “We are passionate about continuing to lead the creation of a flying car industry and are dedicating resources to lay the foundations for our vision of personal transportation.
Terrafugia’s design team is excited to be looking ahead to TF-X development activities as the Transition program shifts from research and development to certification, production, and customer support activities, he added.
“The Transition serves as a Proof of Process for TF-X development and commercialization through the many technical, regulatory, and usage challenges it has overcome,” officials said.
Terrafugia (terra-FOO-gee-ah), based in Woburn, Mass., is an aerospace company founded by pilot-engineers from MIT and supported by a network of advisors and investors. The company name is Latin for “escape the earth.”
For more information: DrivenToFly.com
Another ridiculous idea. I wonder who these people are sucking money from. They can’t even get their first flying car into production after years of promises. Another Moeller type or what? They ought to be ashamed of themselves for taking deposits on aircraft that will probably never see production. Whoever is financing them are fools.
FOOLS – or just need a tax deduction!
“Lets build it anyway – who said (white) elephants couldn’t fly”!”
Can’t believe they are still trying to convince people that this thing will work …….flying cars have never been successful and they never will……….I can see this thing travelling down a highway at 60 mph and pass an 18 wheeler with those panels sticking up in the air…………you know where it will end up?………in the ditch…..And….I would hate to have to perform a pre-flight on it after it hit a big pot hole……It is just a rich man’s toy…no more…no less……..Oh well….such is life……….
Yep they will find out about the terror bit
either that or its all a case of the emperors cloths (i mean flying machine)
Terrafugia – transportation for the people.. who do not know what embarrassment is.
Close – but I’ll wait for the “X-Over Model”!